Another section of the 19th-century Philadelphia YM Discipline: GAMING AND DIVERSIONS AS our time passeth swiftly away, and our delight ought to be in the law of the Lord; it is advised that a watchful care be exercised over our youth, to prevent their going to stage-plays, horse-races, music, dancing, or any such vain sports and pastimes; and being concerned in lotteries, wagering, or other species of gaming. And if any of our members fall into either of these practices, and cannot be prevailed with, by private labour, to decline them, the monthly meetings to which the offenders belong, should be informed thereof, and, if they be not reclaimed by further labour, proceed to testify our disunity with them. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline adds: "We would renewedly caution all our members against indulging in music, or having instruments of music in their houses, believing that the practice tends to promote a light and vain mind, and to disqualify for the serious thoughtfulness, which becomes an accountable being, hastening to his final reckoning. When we consider that our days pass swiftly away, and that our time is one of the talents committed to our trust, for the employment of which we shall have to render an account in the day of judgment, it becomes us to be living as strangers and pilgrims on earth, seeking a better country, and to be diligently using it for the great end for which it is lent to us, even in working out the soul's salvation in fear and trembling, and not in vain amusements or corrupting pleasures, but striving that 'whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we may do all to the glory of God;' that 'God in all things may be glorified by us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.'" "The spirit and language of the discipline forbid the use of music by Friends, without any exception in favor of that called sacred; and in order to produce harmonious action on this subject throughout the subordinate meetings, the Yearly Meeting instructs them, that those members who indulge in the use of music, or who have musical instruments in their houses, bring themselves within the application of this second clause of the Discipline, above referred to, viz.: "And if any of our members fall into either of these practices, and are not prevailed with, by private labor to decline them, the Monthly Meetings to which the offenders belong should be informed thereof, and if they be not reclaimed by further labor, so as to condemn their misconduct to the satisfaction of the meeting, it should proceed to testify our disunity with them."--1873. _________________________________________________________________ Next week: LAW